Portage

As warmer weather arrives, more residents in Portage la Prairie are taking to the streets on e-bikes and e-scooters.

Caitlyn Saindon, Community Safety Office Manager, breaks down the key safety rules and current regulations for these popular electric vehicles.

Regulations for e-bikes versus e-scooters

Saindon notes that e-scooters remain unregulated in Manitoba, but e-bikes are governed by the Highway Traffic Act.

Work to improve the conditions at the Austin baseball diamonds has put a pause on the community's annual softball tournament. However, with work continuing, the hope is they will be back and in better shape than ever for next year.

Brad Giesbrecht, the Vice President of the Austin Community Centre board, notes why the decision was made.

Lori Carpenter is retiring after 1,155  children under her care and 33 years as director of Portage Ukrainian Nursery School, a role she describes as nothing short of "joyful." What began as a summer relief position at Portage Daycare in 1979 evolved into a lifelong passion for early childhood education.

"I went to university for commerce, it did not work out. I was not fitted for that," Carpenter recalls. "I went back to Portage Daycare and loved my time there enough that I decided to pursue my diploma in early childhood education."

Mark and Karin Elford of Wood Mountain ranch near the Saskatchewan/Montana border, and have been named the Saskatchewan Stock Growers 2025 TESA winners.

Since 1996, TESA, or The Environmental Stewardship Award, has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices and set positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public.

MONDAY, JUNE 9TH

NHL
Stanley Cup Finals - Best of 7
Game 3
Florida 6 Edmonton 1
Florida leads series 2-1

MLB
Toronto 5 St. Louis 4 (10 Innings)

TUESDAY, JUNE 10TH

The Liberal plan to give first-time homebuyers a tax break on a newly built home could have substantial impacts on housing affordability — with a few caveats — a new analysis finds.

The Liberal government introduced legislation on June 5 to eliminate the GST portion from new home sales of up to $1 million for first-time buyers, which works out to as much as $50,000 off the cost of a new build or a substantially renovated unit.

For homes sold above $1 million, the GST relief is phased out as the price tag nears $1.5 million.

Even in mid-spring, Portage la Prairie knows the value of a good rink.

City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a transfer of up to $300,000 from the General Infrastructure Reserve to help complete the Koko Platz Recreation Centre and Rink Project—pushing the community-driven effort one step closer to the finish line.

The decision comes in response to a $261,888 shortfall in the rink’s construction budget. The approved amount includes a small contingency to cover any unexpected costs as the project moves toward its anticipated August 2025 completion.

It’s a major milestone for one of Manitoba’s most active legions.

Gladstone’s Legion Branch #110 celebrated its 90th anniversary this past weekend, alongside the 50th anniversary of its clubroom. The day included a town tour, a donation to the local food cupboard, a high tea with dignitaries, and an afternoon of formal presentations at the Legion building.

Nick Beavington, a long-time Legion member and past president, says the day was a huge success, despite the rain.

The Association of Filipinos in Portage la Prairie is hosting multiple events this June to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month. Althea Almazan of the association says the celebrations honour both cultural traditions and Philippine Independence Day on June 12. 

"We were under Spanish rule for 300 years," Almazan notes. "June 12 marks our Independence Day from Spain."